fun tonight,” she repeated.
“Me too. I know I just threw a lot at you with the band and the concert and everything, but it’s not always like this,” I said, lifting my head and taking her hands in mine.
“Good. Not that I don’t love watching you on stage, because it’s super-hot.”
“Am I?” I asked.
She swayed into me. “So hot,” she said. Then she pressed her lips to mine again.
“Good night, Tristan,” she said when she pulled free.
“Good night, Evie.”
And she walked into the bar and out of sight.
“Everything good out here, Tris?” Cassie asked, coming up next to me.
“Yeah.”
“I like her. I like seeing you smile like that even more. Not sure I’ve ever seen that particular smile.”
“You cataloging my expressions or something?” I teased.
“Nope. I hope it works out.”
“Thanks. Me too.”
Evie had blown hot and cold on me since the moment we’d met, and this week had been weird. Even tonight, there were moments where something was off. Or maybe I was looking for something that wasn’t there. It was hard to trust anyone who came into our lives after we became famous and I’d been burned once before.
Chapter 9
EVIE
“James, don’t put that in your mouth,” I said Sunday morning when he lifted a handful of sand toward his face.
He giggled. “I’m not, Mommy.” He let it sift through his fingers before he jumped up and ran toward his favorite climbing structure.
“James, don’t you dare climb to the top again,” I scolded.
He shot me a mischievous grin and started to scramble. Which caused me to bolt off the bench to grab him before he was out of my reach, something that didn’t take long, unfortunately.
I pulled him into my arms and he giggled again. This kid would be the death of me, but every second of uncertainty and torture was worth it. I’d never realized how much I could love someone, who could also make me insane, until I held James in my arms the first time.
“You’re squishing me,” he said, trying to wiggle free.
“It’s because I love you.” I planted a loud smacking kiss on his cheek before I let him down. “Now, please stay where I can reach you.”
“Okay,” he said, but that grin kept me on my feet, ready to pounce.
“Hi,” James said, waving over my shoulder, and I turned to see who he was looking at.
“Hey, little dude.” Tristan waved at James before he looked at me, his eyes locking on mine. The air left my lungs in a rush.
“Hey, Evie,” he said.
He looked like he was debating how to greet me in front of my son. A kiss. A handshake. It was adorable when he was awkward.
His hair was in a bun poking out the back of his baseball cap, and he had on a sleeveless shirt and long basketball shorts. His perfect arms were dotted with sweat. It was just starting to heat up and the humidity would probably be brutal in a few hours.
He glistened.
I wish I glistened after working out, but I ended up looking like a drowned rat.
I wanted to trace every tattoo on his arms with my fingers—hell, with my tongue.
“Up here, Evie,” he said, humor lacing his tone, and I sputtered.
“What? Hi. What are you doing here? How are you here?” I rambled, and he barked out a laugh. It hit low in my belly, heat spiraling out in every direction.
“This is where I like to run and I saw you, so obviously I came over to say hello. Um, should he be up that high?”
“What?” I spun and there was James, at the damn top again. “James,” I yelled.
“Look, Mommy. So high,” his little voice squeaked.
“You are a terrible distraction,” I said over my shoulder at Tristan as I started climbing the structure.
Strong arms grabbed my waist and I was in the air and quickly back on my feet before I could say anything.
“Tristan,” I gasped.
“You’re too short. Hold on,” he said, and then he reached up and grabbed James, setting him on his feet in front of me.
I crouched down. “James, I asked you not to climb that high. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I won’t get hurt. I’m very good at climbing.” His face was stern, and I held back my laugh. I needed to show him I meant business.
“I know, but it still scared Mommy,” I said. I know that reasoning with a toddler was never easy, but neither was scrambling up every climbing structure we came upon.
He patted my face. “Don’t be